A/N: (Thanks to my wonderful beta Alicia for all her help on this one.)

Chapter 14

"Padfoot, Padfoot, Padfoot," Remus called in a sing-song voice ending on a particularly annoying high note. "Padfoot?" he asked more firmly. No response. "Coming?" He turned to Prongs. James shook his head. "Come on, Peter." Remus huffed.

Sirius was being most unhelpful, shutting himself away for hours. It was unusual behavior for the deviant marauder.

Moony would be spinning. A mystery was underfoot. James being James was privy to the secret. He knew exactly why Sirius was tormented. The answer was simple, if only the mutt could see what was right in front of him.

"Prongs." A whine sounded. Sirius pushed his hair roughly away from his face. It fell neatly into place as if it hadn't been touched.

"Yes?" James drawled.

"What should I do?"

"Is it that difficult?"

"Ugh." Sirius growled at the delight in James's tone.

"Calm down," James advised. "It isn't every day we see the infamous Sirius Black this out of sorts because of the opposite sex."

A huff. A long sigh. Sirius shuffled his covers, and parchment. A disgruntled face peered through scarlet curtains.

"Ask Lily." James provided the solution.

Sirius withdrew. More shuffling. Sirius parted the curtains. He stared at James.

"I am such an idiot. Ask Lily."

"Yes," James confirmed. "Fits nicely with our plans."

"Right." Sirius lost his enthusiasm.

"What?" asked James. "Don't go on again about how it isn't going to work."

"I can't make you see reason," admitted Sirius. "Not once you've got what you think is a great idea blocking it."

James waved his hands to encompass all of Sirius. "Get that straightened out. We have to work on our," heavy emphasis on, "other plans. We've been distracted long enough."

"What plans? Who's distracted?" Remus popped back into the room.

"Ask James," instructed Sirius. He hopped off his bed, and darted out the door.

"The snakes," James said. "And to the second question, you'll have to ask him. I'm bound to secrecy."

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Answer a question I didn't ask."

"It's written on that ugly mug of yours."

"Has Sirius figured out the perfect gift to show his true feelings yet?"

"Moony, you always spoil the fun." James tossed a pillow at the werewolf.

#

"Evans! Evans! Oh, Evans!" Sirius yelled. "Oi, Lily Evans!" he cried at seeing her. Lily tried to shrink out of sight.

"What are you doing?" she asked scathingly. She adjusted to her full height as he approached.

"If you must…" He stopped sharply. He teetered on the brink of falling. "Oh hello, Hermione."

"Sirius." She smiled at his odd behavior.

"I need to steal Evans. I'll return her shortly." To Lily's mortification he tugged her from her chair, and to the portrait hole. He ignored her violent protest, but squirmed at her threats.

"Should we do something?" Hermione asked.

"Nah," replied George.

"He's acting weird," Harry said.

Hermione snorted.

#

"Sirius Black, you better have an excellent excuse for acting like a toe rag," Lily said.

"Sshh," Sirius hissed. He led her away from the Fat Lady who was feigning sleep to eavesdrop.

Lily followed sedately for a few steps. Her temper flared. "I will not go another step until you tell me what this is about," she stated in a dangerous whisper. Had James, no Potter, told him?

"I need your help."

"Come again?"

"I have a problem. You are the perfect person to help me." He was not using flattery. "The girl I was telling you about. Her birthday is next week. I have no idea what to get her, but it has to be special. It would be disastrous if it was something awful. I don't want to think about…"

Lily quit listening to his rambling. She put two and two together. "Hermione."

"What? Where?" He spun trying to find the girl.

"She's the girl," Lily announced. She gave herself a mental pat on the back for solving the mystery.

His shoulders slumped. Was he that transparent? And, oh Merlin, did Hermione think him a fool.

"I had no idea until you mentioned a birthday. Harry, and George were talking about a surprise party earlier. Wow, Sirius, she isn't your usual type."

"Usual type?" A stir of remembrance. Their conversation in detention.

"As if you don't know. You go for the more endowed females whether they have brains, or not. I assumed it was because if they had a brain, they'd slap you instead of kiss you."

"Finished?" He scowled.

"I suppose. But I need to know one thing before I decide if I'll help you."

"And that would be?"

"Why should I?"

Struck speechless a garbled sound issued from his throat.

"Hermione's a nice girl. She's above you in so many ways, intelligence included. I don't understand why I should help you." She waited a beat for him to respond. He didn't. "And we haven't covered those ghastly acts you've committed for the sake of a laugh."

"But…but…" he spluttered.

"Give me a reason."

Sirius opened his mouth. Closed it. He hadn't been particularly nice to Lily through the years, especially during altercations between her and James. His mind blank on how to proceed he resorted to his tried-and-true methods. Charm. He pouted. He used his undeniable puppy dog eyes.

Lily didn't bat an eye lash. She yawned pointedly, and tapped her toe impatiently.

Sirius began phrasing an impromptu pleading. The words came fast. He was ready to recite them. Lily stopped him.

"Don't. No mushy stuff from you. It'd be traumatic."

Her acerbic wit threw Sirius. He tilted his chin at an obnoxious angle.

"Relax, would you," Lily said. "You need all the help you can get. Even then it probably won't matter."

"You're so considerate," he complimented. Sarcasm coated the syllables.

"I know." She smiled sweetly. "Still want my help?"

"Yes." He growled through a clenched jaw.

"I'll investigate, and get back to you."

"Thank you."

"Don't. I'm doing this because she'll tear you to shreds if you botch it. Such entertainment." She turned on her heel, and disappeared in a swirl of robes.

Choice words reverberated. It took a great deal of restraint to not expel them.

"Prongs, old boy, you are completely daft."

"Thanks," James said. He materialized behind Sirius. "She did agree to help."

"Yeah, but at what cost?"

"It's nothing more than you deserved. I'm shocked she said yes." James dodged the blow Sirius aimed at him. He whirled the cloak around his shoulders.

"What is this? Pick on Sirius day?"

"I wouldn't certainly hope not, Mr. Black." Professor Dumbledore rounded the corner. "I would have missed all the fun." He chuckled. "Time for bed."

"Yes, sir." Sirius walked to the Fat Lady. "James, you prat," he grumbled.

Dumbledore watched Sirius climb through. He allowed a frown to mar his features when the boy vanished. The new students had integrated into his old house seamlessly. Amazing how quickly the marauders accepted them. Not in the inner circle yet, but on the fringes. The closest anyone had gotten.

He studied the time travelers. Good students. They didn't purposefully cause trouble. Nor did they arouse suspicion, but doubt lingered. A change was coming, a devastating change, and that change shifted the future. Was it a natural amalgamation of events, or was it linked to his new students?

He'd follow his original plan. Midnight wanderings aside. He'd wait for a sign. Then he would take the necessary actions. He saw no harm in letting them continue their current path. Nevertheless, a closer scrutiny of the trio would not be remiss. And a chat here, or there wouldn't hurt. The protection of his students was his highest priority.

#

"This is ridiculous. Can't you tell me where we're going?" Hermione asked. Exasperation leaked into her tone. She had homework. Lots of homework. She didn't have time for whatever this was.

"Somewhere we can talk."

"What's wrong with the common room? Do you know how much studying I have to do? This isn't about some stupid prank, is it? We decided to lay low. No more detentions."

Since the food fight two weeks ago things had settled. No pranks had occurred. It was their turn to retaliate, and the marauders respected the code of conduct in a prank war. Lily was relieved and grateful. She spent her free periods in the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey. George insisted she enjoy the lull, because they were merely biding their time.

"It's nothing to do with pranks. You can study later. A break won't kill you." He checked his borrowed watch. His task was to distract Hermione while their friends set up the party. At the appointed time he had to get her there. He regretted volunteering. Snark took over when her precious study habits were disturbed. He led her to an empty classroom.

"What is so important?" she asked.

"How do we get home?" He, and George discussed how best to distract Hermione. He doubted their chosen subject as Hermione wrung her hands.

"I can't believe it," she said. "I haven't done any research." She started pacing

"There's research?"

"Possibly," she replied. She chided herself. The resources in the library were at her disposal. "I got distracted," she admitted. "But I did extensive research when McGonagall entrusted me with a time turner. I never came across a situation similar to ours."

"Of course not," Harry said. "They wouldn't leave that information where students could get to it."

"Is that what you want?" she asked. "To go home?"

"No," he said hurriedly. "I'm not ready. I would stay forever if I could. I'm spending time with my mum, and dad. But they don't know I'm their son. It's difficult to explain. It's like Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. I didn't know what I was missing until they came along. And now, I know what I truly lost. My mum is amazing. She's smart and fierce. My dad is crazy, and clever. They're just like us, Hermione. They had a life."

Hermione selected her words carefully. He wobbled on the edge between desolation, and resolve.

"It was unbearably cruel." She wasn't risking their fragile peace with harping on how they couldn't change things.

"I don't think they remember us," she said.

"Why?"

"Did Remus, or Sirius mention this?"

"Why would they?"

"This would have already happened to them. Meeting us," she clarified.

"We don't look like ourselves," he explained grasping at thin wisps of hope. "Why would they talk about three random transfer students?"

"Don't you think they would have mentioned another Hermione Granger? It's not a common name."

"It was a long time ago for them. So much happened. They wouldn't remember every person they met in school."

He doth protest too much. "What is it?" she asked suspiciously.

"It's obvious. They didn't say anything, because it wasn't time to. We met them when we were 13. Nowhere near making this journey." He opted for this solution. He couldn't handle them not remembering. If they didn't remember, did this happen? Was this happening? Or was it another head game like Charring Cross Station with Dumbledore. "They never got the chance to tell us."

Surrounded by the seventh year Gryffindors made it impossible to forget their fates, but sometimes they had a brief escape from the knowledge.

"It's a possibility."

"Hermione," he said quietly, "do you think we'll remember?"

It clicked. "Yes, we will." She tried to be firm, but there was no conviction in her tone.

"You're not trying hard enough to be convincing." Hermione was a skilled liar if the situation called for it.

She gave a hollow laugh. "I hope we do. That's the best I can offer."

"I'll take it," Harry said. Another glance at his watch. It was time. "Come on." He gestured for her to follow him.

"Where are we going?"

"To try something." He walked fast. Too many thoughts swirled begging for his attention. His head hurt at the implications.

"Harry?" Hermione called. "We can't do this without George. What if it works, and he gets left behind?"

Harry concentrated. He passed the wall three times.

#

"Lily," James said politely. "How did you find this room?" The marauders explored every inch of the castle for their map. This room posed as a safe refuge from a prowling Filch. A small closet, not this cozy party setting.

"What's wrong, Potter? Is there a room the marauders haven't discovered?"

"Not at all," he blustered. "We found it ages ago." He smiled bestowing a slight bow before walking away. "We need to add this to the map," he whispered to Sirius.

"If only we could," Sirius murmured. Filch confiscated the map in their sixth year. "We have to retrieve it."

"We will," vowed James.

"It's almost time," Lily said. She gathered everyone close to the door.

#

"Harry, I'm not going in there without George. I can't believe you'd do this."

"Do you think I would?" he asked. She shook her head. "I asked for a room to find answers. If you've read the books in the library then we need to look elsewhere."

"Like when the D.A. met. The room provided those defense books."

"Exactly." He opened the door, and ushered her inside.

"SURPRISE!"

She turned to Harry for an explanation.

"Happy birthday," he said.

"Oh my." She took in the people waiting for her to walk into the room. Warm fuzzies fizzed in her chest.

"We don't bite," Remus said at her hesitation.

"Unless you ask us to." Sirius winked.

She smiled tentatively dissecting his comment. A hint lurked in that wink. Harry nudged her.

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking us for?" George asked. "We haven't gotten to the presents yet."

Hermione looked at the attendees. Lily, Priya, James, Remus, Sirius, George, Harry, and unfortunately Peter. They were here to celebrate her. A twinge of sadness at the missing faces. Ginny, Neville, Luna, the Weasleys. Ron. But he wouldn't have been there anyway. And more faces would be missing in the future. She couldn't have it both ways. Forcing a smile, she stepped into the room.

She took her time observing the decorations. She hoped to staunch her tears by looking up. The Room of Requirement was tastefully decorated in Gryffindor gold, and red. Streamers draped from the ceiling, balloons bobbed with colorful ribbons attached, and a banner stretched across one wall. She noticed George's handiwork. Confetti, and glitter from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes flowed like a waterfall.

"Come on, Granger, let's get this party started." George blew a noise maker, and handed her a butterbeer.

"You're with people who care," Harry said. He read her thoughts. It had been foolish to bring up home. He signaled George.

George grinned and lit the fireworks.

"Awesome!" cheered James.

"Where did they come from?" Sirius asked. He had never seen anything like them. Dragons comprised of green and gold sparks soared around the room. Rockets with long tails of silver stars ricocheted off the walls. Sparklers spelled happy birthday.

"Homemade," bragged George. He absorbed the praise from his idols as they extolled the brilliance of the fireworks.

"Boys and their flashy toys," Lily said. Although she admired the fireworks too. They were amazing.

"I take offense to that," Remus said.

"You're the exception," Hermione replied winking.

Remus felt his cheeks heat at the unexpected gesture. Lily, Priya, and Hermione giggled. Hermione sprayed her mouthful of butterbeer.

"Thanks, but no thanks," George joked. "I had my shower today." His wand halted the liquid mid-flight.

Hermione laughed. The laugh quickly morphed into a flowing, rib aching, uncontrollable force.

"It wasn't that funny," George stage whispered to Harry. Hermione cackled. It was infectious. Harry chuckled. Lily snorted. George snickered. Priya chortled. The whole room erupted. Laughter echoed, and bounced competing with the fireworks.

#

"That was the best cake," Hermione said. She laid her empty plate aside. She licked the corner of her mouth dislodging the dab of chocolate frosting.

"I feel obligated to protest on my mum's behalf," George said.

"I take it back," Hermione said quickly. "Nothing compares to Mrs. Walker's cooking."

"My mum would give her fair competition," challenged James.

"I second that. Mrs. Potter's cooking is superb," Sirius said.

"Oi, Sirius, she isn't here. You don't have to hand out compliments to stay in her good graces."

"Moony, you don't —"

"Boys," Priya interrupted, "don't spoil this wonderful occasion with immature sparring. It's time for the good stuff, the presents." She handed Hermione a brightly wrapped gift in Ravenclaw colors. Everyone sat in a circle around Hermione and her presents.

Shyness crept over Hermione as she accepted the parcel. She tried to gently unwrap the gift, but the rowdy crowd would not tolerate such an act.

"Rip it open," James instructed. He was more excited than she was.

Lily elbowed him in the ribs. "Ow, Evans."

"Hush."

"Thank you, Priya. This is lovely." She caressed the soft fabric of the red, and gold sweater.

"You're welcome."

Hermione oohed, and awed appropriately at her presents. She stacked them neatly beside her. The folded sweater, a beautiful quill from Peter, an assorted box of Honeyduke's finest from Remus, and a basket of Wonder Witch products including several daydream charms from George.

Four presents remained. Harry's, Sirius's, Lily's, and oddly James's. She picked up the vibrant package with trepidation. The eager expression on James's face did nothing to assuage the anxiety. She tore into the paper. It exploded transforming into a shower of confetti.

James was in stitches. The others laughed with him. George got a calculating glint in his eye. The gears worked in his mind developing a new product for his shop. She brushed the mess from her hair, and peered at a smaller box.

"What can I expect to happen with this one?" she asked. She refused to handle it.

"Nothing." Three witches raised their eyebrows skeptically. "I only charmed the first box." James smiled innocently.

Hermione held the box at arm's length. She removed the lid cautiously. Nothing exploded, or jumped at her. She looked inside. Seven miniature figurines were nestled in red velvet. She picked one up for inspection. It wore Gryffindor Quidditch robes.

"The Quidditch team?"

"Yeah."

"Look, Harry, it's you." She replaced the first figure, and held up another one. "And you, George." She displayed the miniature George figure on her palm.

"You like it?" James asked dubiously.

"I do," confessed Hermione. She examined the tiny Sirius.

"But you don't like Quidditch?"

"I know." Hermione packed the figures, and put the box beside her other gifts. She got a nice journal, and an assortment of Muggle candy from Lily.

"Lily, they're my favorite."

"Mine too."

Two parcels left. She purposefully waited on Harry's saving the best for last. Sirius's present also sat untouched. She saved it as well. She picked it up. Butterflies danced in her stomach. The paper fell away.

"Oh, Sirius…"


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